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Dean Shek
Dean Shek
	Shek at The Wit and Wisdom of Cinema City event held at the Hong Kong Film Archive in 2016
Born	Lau Wai-sing; 劉偉成 (Traditional); 刘伟成 (Simplified); Liú Ｗěichéng (Mandarin); Lau4 Wai2sing4 (Cantonese); 17 June 1949; Beijing, China
Died	20 September 2021 (aged 72); Hong Kong
Occupation(s)	Actor, film producer, film director, screenwriter, film presenter
Years active	1968–1992,; 2016–2021
Spouse	Lau Chun-yue (1979–2021)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	石天
Simplified Chinese	石天
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Shí Tiān
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	Sek6 Tin1
	Musical career
Also known as	Charlie Shek
Origin	Hong Kong

Dean Shek (17 June 1949^[1] – 20 September 2021),^[2] also known as Dean Shek Tin, was a Hong Kong film actor and producer with over 72 film credits to his name. Shek was perhaps best known as Professor Kai-hsien in the 1978 film Drunken Master, Lung Sei in the 1987 film A Better Tomorrow II, and Snooker in the 1990 film The Dragon from Russia.

Early life

With ancestral roots from Tianjin, China, Shek was born as Lau Wai-sing on 17 June 1949, Beijing, before moving to Hong Kong at the age of 3.^[3] There, he attended the Shung Tak Catholic English College before studying filmmaking, acting and voice acting at Shaw Brothers Studio's actors training program in 1968.^[4]

Career

Acting

Shek began his career as a contracted actor at Shaw Brothers Studio in 1968,^[5] making his first brief appearance in the film Twin Blades of Doom (1969). He received more substantial roles at Shaws, in musicals such as The Singing Killer, romantic films including A Time For Love (1970), comedies such as The Human Goddess (1972) and martial arts films such as The Fists of Vengeance (1972).

Shek left Shaw Brothers in 1973. The same year, he appeared in Master with Cracked Fingers, the first film to feature Jackie Chan in a starring role. He made his directorial debut in 1975 with The Monk, and worked as assistant director on Black Alice (1975), A Queen's Ransom (1976), Iron Fisted Monk (1977).

Throughout the late 1970s, Shek continued to work with the likes of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung on period kung fu films including Broken Oath (1977), Warriors Two (1978), Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), Drunken Master (1978), Odd Couple (1979) and Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979).

Shek is credited as producer on 22 films, most of which were for the production company Cinema City & Films Co., which he co founded with Karl Maka and Raymond Wong in 1980.^[6] Throughout the 1980s, he appeared in action, crime and comedy films such as Aces Go Places and John Woo's A Better Tomorrow 2 (1987). He also directed four films during the period, which were The Perfect Wife?! (1983), A Family Affair (1984), Kung Hei Fat Choy (1985) and The Family Strikes Back (1986), which were all box office hits.^[4]

Final film and retirement from acting

Shek played his final role as Uncle Choi in the 1991 action film, The Raid.

In 1992, Shek retired from acting at the age of 42, after working as a producer in 1992 fantasy horror film, Angel Hunter.

Recently, Shek made a return to acting with a cameo appearance in the 2016 film, The Bodyguard, which is directed by and starring Sammo Hung, and also produced by and guest starring Andy Lau.^[7]

Shek last made his public appearance with his former Cinema City & Films Co. collaborators at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Personal life

In 1979, Shek married Taiwanese actress Lau Chun-yue. They had several children together.^[4] Shek's three main personal hobbies were cigar, golf and coffee.^[8]

After retiring from the film industry, Shek ventured into and found success in the real estate industry.^[3]

Shek died from cancer on 20 September 2021, at the age of 72. He had been diagnosed with the disease two months prior.^[9]

Filmography

Films

Year	Title	Chinese Title	Role	Notes
1968	Killer Darts	追魂鏢	"Tung Kung-long"
1969	Twin Blades of Doom	陰陽刀	"Mayor's servant"
1969	Dark Semester	桃李春風	"Yu Mei-hsiu"
1970	Young Lovers	青春戀	"Lin Da-cheng"
	A Time for Love	那個不多情	"John Chau"
	The Singing Killer	小煞星	"Fairy"
	My Son	春火	"Rape gang member"
	Guess Who Killed by Twelve Lovers	噴火美人魚	"Stephen"
1971	It Takes a Man to Be Henpecked	怕老婆是大丈夫	Actor
	The Man with Two Wives	齊人樂	Actor
	Master with Cracked Fingers	刁手怪招	"Landlord"	Re-edit of Little Tiger of Canton
1972	Pursuit	林沖夜奔	"Palace guard"
	Intrigue in Nylons	少奶奶的絲襪	"Shop clerk"
	The Human Goddess	凡下女仙	"Playboy #1"
	The Fugitive	亡命徒	"Siu Ba"
	The Fists of Vengeance	落葉飛刀	"Doggie"	a.k.a. The Deadly Knives a.k.a. A Life-and-Death Struggle
	The Black Tavern	黑店	"Wandering Monk"
	Let's Go to Bed	我們要洞房	Actor
1973	The Young Tiger	小老虎	"Conceited Red Shirt"
	Tales of Larceny	牛鬼蛇神	"Yu Jieh"	Two-part anthology film with Shek appearing in the first part.
	The Pirate	大海盜	"Master Bai"
	The Iron Bodyguard	大刀王五	"Liang Qi-chao"	a.k.a. The Knight and the Scholar
	Illicit Desire	風流韻事	"Little Fairy"	Three-part anthology film with Shek appearing in the third part.
	The Generation Gap	叛逆	"Club bald waiter"	a.k.a. The Traitor
	The Delinquent	憤怒少年	"Cripple"	a.k.a. Street Gangs of Hong Kong
	My Wife, My Love and My Maid	一嬌二俏三更妙
	Ambush	埋伏	"Cold-faced swordsman Hong Lieh"
	The Villains	土匪	"Li Deng-yao"
1974	Young Lovers on Flying Wheels	電單車	"Xiao Xian"
	Naughty! Naughty!	綽頭狀元	"Auntie Six's husband"
	A Mad World of Fools	怪人怪事	Actor
	The Golden Lotus	金瓶雙豔	"Doctor Jiang"
	Games Gamblers Play	鬼馬雙星	"Casino clerk"
	Blood Reincarnation	陰陽界	"Chang"
	The Big Risk	虎鬥虎	Actor	a.k.a. Kung Fu Conspiracy a.k.a. When Tough Guys Meet
	Tenants of Talkative Street	街知巷聞	Actor
	Paris Killers	巴黎殺手	"Shot messenger"
	Everyday Is Sunday	天天報喜	Actor
	Bravest Fist	一山五虎	Actor
	Call Me Dragon	神龍小虎闖江湖	"Mincing waiter"	a.k.a. Fighting Dragon vs. Deadly Tiger
	April Fool	出乎意料	Actor Screenwriter
	The Protectors	鏢旗飛揚	"Spear Prince"
1975	The Monk	出家人	"Si-hung" Director Screenwriter	Directorial debut a.k.a. The Kung Fu Monk
	Kissed by the Wolves	狼吻	Actor
	The Young Dragons	鐵漢柔情	"Young brothel customer"
	Shantung Man in Hong Kong	小山東到香港	Actor	a.k.a. Little Shantung Arrives in Hong Kong
	The Seven Coffins	驅魔女	Actor
	The Last Message	天才與白痴	"Hotel clerk"
	My Wacky, Wacky World	大千世界	"Te Shun"
	Lady of the Law	女捕快	"Young Master Chen"
	Hong Kong Superman	香港超人	Actor Assistant director	a.k.a. Bruce, Hong Kong Master
	Chinese Superior Kung Fu	中國神打	Actor
	The Bedevilled	心魔	"Lin Chi-yao"
	Bald-Headed Betty	光頭蓓蒂	Actor
	All in the Family	花飛滿城春	Actor
	Black Alice	盲女奇緣	Assistant director
1976	A Queen's Ransom	鱷潭群英會	"Ducky" Assistant director Assistant producer
	My Funny Intern	鬼馬俏醫生	Actor	a.k.a. Hour of the Wolf a.k.a. Typical Admirable Doctor
	I Want More...	官人我要 ...	Actor	a.k.a. Confession of a Concubine a.k.a. Injustice! My Lord
	The Girlie Bar	酒帘	"Xiao Kang"	a.k.a. The Finger Bar
	The Simple-Minded Fellow	大懵成	Actor
	Divorce Hong Kong Style	香港式離婚	Actor
	Gonna Get You	溫拿與教授	Planning
1977	Mantis Fists and Tiger Claws of Shaolin	血海螳螂仇	Hung Chun-piao
	The Iron-Fisted Monk	三德和尚與舂米六	"Manchu" Assistant director
	Broken Oath	破戒	"Brothel manager"
	The Discharged	出冊	"Toast waiter" (cameo)
	Winner Takes All!	面懵心精	Actor
1978	Warriors Two	贊先生與找錢華	"Master Yao"
	Spiritual Kung Fu	拳精	"Shaolin student"
	Snake in the Eagle's Shadow	蛇形刁手	"Teacher Li"
	Snake Crane Secret	蛇鶴丹心震九州	"Shao Ting-shan"	a.k.a. Secrets of the Dragon a.k.a. Snake & Crane Secrets
	Half a Loaf of Kung Fu	一招半式闖江湖	"Man with cane"	a.k.a. Karate Bomber
	Filthy Guy	臭頭小子	Actor	a.k.a. Return of the Secret Rivals a.k.a. Emperor of Filthy Guy
	Drunken Master	醉拳	"Professor Kai-shien"	a.k.a. Drunk Monkey in the Tiger's Eye
	Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog	老虎田雞	"Panther"
	Deadly Strike	最佳搏殺	"Cheung Tsai"	a.k.a. Breakout from Oppression
	Dirty Kung Fu	鬼馬功夫	"Criminal who sells women"	a.k.a. Kung Fu Expert
	18 Fatal Strikes	十八羅漢拳	"Tai-pan"	a.k.a. 18 Deadly Strikes
	My Life's on the Line	賭命走天涯	"Master Handsome"	a.k.a. 60 Second Assassin
	The Adventure of the Heaven Mouse	通天老鼠下江南	Actor	a.k.a. Force 3 From Shanghai a.k.a. Snake in the Crane's Shadow
	Crazy Guy with Super Kung Fu	戇頭呆佬笨徒弟	Actor
1979	Story of Drunken Master	醉俠蘇乞兒	"Little Master" (cameo)
	Love and Sword	要命的小方	Actor	a.k.a. The Samurai
	Odd Couple	搏命單刀奪命槍	"Master Rocking"	a.k.a. Shaolin Sabre vs Wu Tang Spear
	Kung Fu on Sale	功夫大拍賣	"Kung fu instructor"	a.k.a. King of Money and Fists
	His Name Is Nobody	無名小卒	"Sting"
	The Fearless Hyena	笑拳怪招	"Undertaker" (guest star)
	Dance of the Drunk Mantis	南北醉拳	"Money Bags"	a.k.a. Drunken Master Part 2
	Crazy Couple	無招勝有招	"Yan"
	Four Invincibles	四大跛拳	Actor
	Dance of Death	舞拳	"Bird Egg"	a.k.a. Eternal Conflict
1980	Ring of Death	龍形摩橋	"Chu"	a.k.a. Bastard Kung Fu Master
	Crazy Crooks	瘋狂大老千	"Mo-pei Chai" Presenter
	By Hook or by Crook	鹹魚翻生	"Skinny Gee"
	Laughing Times	滑稽時代	"Chinese Charlie Chaplin"
1981	Emperor of Shaolin Kung Fu	闖王李自成	Actor	a.k.a. Lord Chuang, Li Tzu-cheng a.k.a. The Snake, the Tiger, the Crane
	Chasing Girls	追女仔	"Robert"
	Beware of Pickpockets	歡樂神仙窩	"Extra Hand"
	Life After Life	再生人	Producer
	All the Wrong Clues for the Right Solution	鬼馬智多星	Producer	a.k.a. All the Wrong Clues
	No U-Turn	不准掉頭	Producer
	Spooky Kookies	神檯貓	Producer
1982	It Takes Two	難兄難弟	"Shek" Producer
	Can't Stop the War	大追擊	"Soldier" (cameo) Producer
	Aces Go Places	最佳拍檔	"Giglo Joe" (special appearance) Producer
	Till Death Do We Scare	小生怕怕	Presenter
	He Lives by Night	夜驚魂	Presenter
1983	The Perfect Wife?!	專撬牆腳	"Dean Shek" Director Presenter
	Fearless Hyena Part II	龍騰虎躍	"Shek Earth" (guest star)
	All the Wrong Spies	我愛夜來香	"Japanese soldier in intro" (cameo) Presenter
	Ghost Bustin'	抓鬼特攻隊	Presenter
	Esprit D'armour	陰陽錯	Presenter	Re-edit of the 1970 film
	Aces Go Places 2	最佳拍檔大顯神通	Presenter
	Play Catch	少爺威威	Presenter
	Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing?	搭錯車	Producer
	Send in the Clowns	台上台下	Producer
	Kidnapped	等劍的小孩	Producer
	That Day on the Beach	海灘的一天	Production manager
1984	A Family Affair	全家福	"Alex" Director Presenter
	Banana Cop	英倫琵琶	Presenter
	Happy Ghost	開心鬼	Presenter
	Lifeline Express	鴻運當頭	Presenter
	Heaven Can Help	上天救命	Presenter
	Merry Christmas	聖誕快樂	Presenter
	Aces Go Places 3	最佳拍檔女皇密令	Presenter
	The Occupant	靈氣逼人	Presenter
	Run, Tiger, Run	兩隻老虎	Producer Presenter
	Pom Pom	神勇雙響炮	Presenter
	My Sentimental Little Friend	多情種	Presenter	a.k.a. My Little Sentimental Friend
	The Time You Need a Friend	笑匠	Presenter
1985	Kung Hei Fat Choy	恭喜發財	"Mr. Fung" Director Producer Presenter
	City Hero	飛虎奇兵	"Trainer Lee"
	Mummy Dearest	四眼仔	Presenter
	For Your Heart Only	為你鍾情	Presenter
	Why Me?	何必有我	Presenter
	Happy Ghost II	開心鬼放暑假	Presenter
	Cupid One	愛神一號	Presenter
	The Isle of Fantasy	開心樂園	Presenter
	Super Citizen	超級市民	Presenter
	Lone, Lone Flower	孤戀花	Presenter
	Happy Union	天生一對	Presenter
	Happy Union 2	天生寶一對	Presenter
1986	The Family Strikes Back	烏龍大家庭	"Shek La-mai" Director Producer
	Abracadabra	天靈靈‧地靈靈	Presenter
	Happy Ghost III	開心鬼撞鬼	Presenter
	Aces Go Places IV	最佳拍檔千里救差婆	Presenter
	A Book of Heroes	歡樂龍虎榜	Presenter
1987	A Better Tomorrow 2	英雄本色II	"Lung Sei"
1987	Lady in Black	奪命佳人	Producer Presenter
1988	City War	義膽紅唇	Presenter
1988	Fractured Follies	長短腳之戀	Producer
1989	They Came to Rob Hong Kong	八寶奇兵	"Sherlock False" Screenwriter Presenter
1990	The Dragon from Russia	紅場飛龍	"Snooker" (guest star) Producer Presenter
1991	The Raid	財叔之橫掃千軍	"Uncle Choi" Presenter
1992	Angel Hunter	女校風雲之邪教入侵	Producer Presenter
2016	The Bodyguard	特工爺爺	"Old man" (guest appearance)	Final film role

Television series

Year	Title	Chinese title	Role	Country and channel	Notes
1976	Saga of Sui & Tong Dynasty	隋唐風雲	"Lee Yuen-kat"	Hong Kong - CTV
1977	Sword Stained with Royal Blood	碧血劍	"Ha Suet-yee"	Hong Kong - CTV

References

^ ^a ^b SHEK Dean — 石天 — (1949.6.17−2021.9.20) director, screenwriter., In: filmarchive.gov.hk, Hong Kong Film Archive, pdf-file; 161 kB. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
^ "細仔證實石天已逝黃百鳴尊重亡友遺願未搞追思會". Oriental Press Group. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b "搜房网：地产人物----石天 - 深圳搜房网". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild - Directors - Dean SHEK". Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
^ "Dean Shek Tin". Short Biographies. HKFilm.net. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
^ "Sammo Hung (洪金宝)". biography. Jongo Knows. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
^ "Sammo Hung does some serious damage in 'The Bodyguard'". City on Fire. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
^ "他是影壇大佬，曾力捧哥哥張國榮，和黃百鳴等人共同創造影壇神話". Da Liu Lian. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
^ "新藝城」元老石天10月已癌逝家人盼低調暫不辦追思". 噓！星聞. 2 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.

External links

[hkfa-1] SHEK Dean — 石天 — (1949.6.17−2021.9.20) director, screenwriter., In: filmarchive.gov.hk, Hong Kong Film Archive, pdf-file; 161 kB. Retrieved November 8, 2021.

[2] "細仔證實石天已逝黃百鳴尊重亡友遺願未搞追思會". Oriental Press Group. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.

[sz-3] "搜房网：地产人物----石天 - 深圳搜房网". Retrieved 22 December 2015.

[director-4] "Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild - Directors - Dean SHEK". Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2015.

[5] "Dean Shek Tin". Short Biographies. HKFilm.net. Retrieved 13 August 2009.

[6] "Sammo Hung (洪金宝)". biography. Jongo Knows. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.

[7] "Sammo Hung does some serious damage in 'The Bodyguard'". City on Fire. Retrieved 12 October 2015.

[8] "他是影壇大佬，曾力捧哥哥張國榮，和黃百鳴等人共同創造影壇神話". Da Liu Lian. Retrieved 26 December 2015.

[9] "新藝城」元老石天10月已癌逝家人盼低調暫不辦追思". 噓！星聞. 2 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.

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